On Monday, May 26, 2025, the patriotic flag retreat in Town Square was extra special as the Navy Band Southwest joined the Dapper Dans and Disneyland Security Honor Guard for a special Memorial Day Patriotic Flag Retreat. The ceremony is held every day at Disneyland and honors those who are serving or have served in the United States armed services. On Memorial Day, there was added focus on those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to the United States of America.
The flag retreat began around 4:15 PM with the Navy Band Southwest marching down Main Street, USA, to Town Square, where the Dapper Dans and Disneyland Security Honor Guard joined them. There, the flag retreat was held in a manner that was quite familiar to those who have experienced this beautiful moment at Disneyland. The big difference on this day was the addition of the Navy band and the daytime fireworks that were added to the ceremony. The other difference was the number of people who came to watch and participate in the ceremony.
The Daps Magic team was on hand to capture this moment. People began waiting earlier in the afternoon. Seeing this, the Daps Magic team grabbed a spot over an hour before the beginning of the Patriotic Flag Retreat. This led to a wonderful view of this beautiful ceremony. The video of this can be seen here:
For over 100 years, Disney has continued the legacy that started with founders Walt and Roy O. Disney when they served their country during World War I. This legacy inspired the daily flag retreat ceremonies at both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom.
Each day, along with lowering the flag, veterans are honored during the ceremony. Even before Disneyland opened, Walt Disney involved veterans in the creation of the park. This included Disney Legend and U.S. Navy veteran, Admiral Joe Fowler. Admiral Fowler’s name and memory live on with Fowler’s Harbor. This dry dock area in Frontierland was named in honor of the Admiral.
The Patriotic Flag Retreat is just one way that Disney continues to salute the U.S. military service. The Heroes Work Here program is another. The Disneyland Resort and The Walt Disney Company continue to show their dedication to servicemembers and their families.
The Navy Band Southwest is from Naval Base San Diego, where it has been serving and supporting the community for over 100 years. The band is under the direction of Lieutenant Matthew M. Shea. This year, the Navy is celebrating its 250th anniversary, which was also noted during the ceremony at Disneyland.
What do you think of this special Memorial Day Patriotic Flag Retreat? Have you ever experienced this in person before? What do you like the most about it? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
